New Media Makes ‘Dry’ Information Accessible

The IDF Spokespersons Unit explains at Herzliya Conference how it uses new media to make information accessible to everyone.

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Elad Benari, 10/02/11 01:17 | updated: 03:18

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One of the panels of this week’s Herzliya Conference was a panel dealing with the topic ‘New Media as a Strategic Weapon.’

During the panel, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Avi Benayahu introduced Lt. Aliza Landes, one of the members of his unit. Landes, a lone soldier, is in charge of new media at the IDF Spokesperson Unit.

Landes pointed out that working with blogs and bloggers is one of the most important tasks. “[Bloggers] have an enormous amount of influence and ignoring that we do at our own peril,” she said and added that the purpose of using new media, as she sees it, is making information available to as many people as possible.

One of the ways to achieve this task is to use social networks which allow for ‘dry’ information to become more interesting and visually appealing.

“There’s so much information that comes through the IDF Spokesperson’s office that isn’t necessarily suitable for mainstream media because it’s not really a story,” said Landes. “We try to use that information, that would otherwise get tossed aside, and try to put it online because other bloggers or the curious public might find it interesting.”